United Way grant requirementsOrganizations, service providers and agencies interested in receiving funds from the 2016-17 River Valley United Way grant must attend at least one of two informational training sessions for its upcoming funding cycle. In order to be eligible, prospective applicants are required to attend one of the following training sessions: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 19, at the River Valley Christian Clinic in Dardanelle, or 1-4p.m. on Tuesday, June...

Youth academy tackles emergency situationsThe sixth-annual 2015 Russellville Police Department Youth Academy took place this past week where 25 kids ages 10-12 participated in police and emergency management related exercises and events. On Tuesday, youths participated in a golf cart driving course, in which they would have to either attempt to text and drive or wear drunk goggles that simulated the experience of driving while intoxicated. The course was meant to exemplify the dangers...

Joe Fisher is new superintendent at AtkinsAn Arkansas Tech University graduate who started his education career at Dardanelle has been selected to be the next superintendent for the Atkins School District. The Atkins School Board called a special meeting Friday and voted to hire Joe Fisher as superintendent. He replaces Mark Gotcher, who resigned after he was named the deputy commissioner at the Arkansas Department of Education on May 30. Fisher said Saturday he was very happy to get ...

Hector police get first badgesHECTOR — Officers with the Hector Police Department (HPD) will soon have new, carefully designed badges on their newly furnished uniforms as they patrol the streets of Hector. Police Chief BeLinda Shelton said the HPD has never had badges before, so the addition was a necessity for the sake of officiality. Mayor John Riley originally thought of the idea to create a badge that would bear true meaning for the community, as opposed to using a sto...

First night of MAOT preliminaries THE COURIER / Submitted During the Thursday night preliminary for the Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen (MAOT) pageant, the Alpha group competed in talent and the Beta group competed in active wear and evening gown. Alpha awards are for the young ladies competing in the MAOT pageant for the first time. All alpha award recipients receive a $100 cash scholarship that is sponsored by the Miss Arkansas Executive Director’s Association. Thursday over...

Cleaning up Atkins still very hot topicATKINS — The City Council continued to discuss unsightly and unsanitary properties during its regular meeting Tuesday. Atkins Mayor Jerry Don Barrett said City Attorney Bill Swain will look into the possibility of some kind of criminal (misdemeanor) offense against those who have done nothing to clean up their properties, despite citizens signing petitions, and first-term Alderman Bro Price bringing them to each council meeting. “I think we ha...

Man flees, arrested with 2 for meth chargesDANVILLE — Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced the arrest Wednesday night of a Russellville man and two Havana residents who face charges relating to methamphetamine. A press release from the Yell County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) indicated Bradley Murl Buckman, 31, of Russellville was arrested early Thursday morning on State Highway 154 east of Centerville. Also arrested were Russell Ray Gorman, 37, and Kalyn B. Stark, 33, both of Havana. ...

Appleton investigationAPPLETON — The Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and Arkansas State Police (ASP) are investigating the death of a person who was found Wednesday night in a field. A press release stated PCSO and ASP officers responded to an Appleton address just after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday after they received a report of a body located in a vacant field. Deputies located an unidentified individual who was determined to be deceased. Both the PCSO and ASP are wo...

All federal employees', retired and former, personnel information allegedly hackedWASHINGTON (AP) — A major union says the cyber theft of employee information is more damaging than it first appeared, asserting that hackers stole personnel data and Social Security numbers for 4 million current and former federal workers. The Obama administration had acknowledged that up to 4 million current and former employees whose information resides in the Office of Personnel Management server are affected by the December cyber breach, b...

Lawmakers seeking more feedbackWASHINGTON — All four U.S. Representatives and both U.S. senators who represent Arkansas joined Rep. Lamar Alexander and requested Tuesday that the Department of Energy (DOE) extend the comment period for the need and feasibility review of the Plains & Eastern Clean Line transmission project. U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) of Dardanelle — along with Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01), French Hill (AR-02), Steve Womack (...

Pilots want all hangar leases extendedThe Russellville City Council’s Finance Committee voted to extend the hangar lease at Russellville Regional Airport for a prospective business, but many pilots left Tuesday’s meeting without a similar agreement. Airport Director Keith Frazier told aldermen the Airport Commission recommended to extend the hangar lease for Precision Applicators. Frazier said he thought the council should do whatever is in the best economic interest of the airpor...

River Valley Rewind (June 10, 2015)THE COURIER / File ERIC THE CHURCHMOUSE ... and Mr. Frog are two puppets who have something to say to children of all ages. The Rev. Billy E. Reeves, supervisor of the child evangelism division of the Assemblies of God Sunday School department, is the children’s speaker for the annual Sunday School convention of the Arkansas District Council of the Assemblies of God meeting which ends tonight at the Russellville First Assembly of God Church. R...

Faith Night concert tonightMiss Arkansas Outstanding Teen contestants were welcomed to Russellville Tuesday evening with an arrival ceremony at The Center for the Arts and were then paired with a Diamond State Prince or Princess to mentor. A special fundraising Faith Night Concert will be held at 6:30 this evening to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Tickets will be available at the door and at the box office. Pictured are Miss Arkansas, Ashton Campbell (back left...

Week-long events begin tonightThirty-six young ladies from across the state, between ages 13-17, will converge on the Russellville High School Center for the Arts this week for the Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen (MAOT) pageant. The MAOT scholarship pageant, which begins today with an arrival ceremony, is intended to encourage and reward the talent, communications skills, community service and academic achievements of girls between ages 13 and 17. The arrival ceremony, whic...

Local children complete "good sibling" classBringing a new baby home is always exciting and sometimes challenging for siblings. That’s why each month, Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center hosts “goodsiblings,” a fun and interactive class specially created for brothers and sisters of a new baby. It’s a great way to learn how to be a “good” big brother or a “good” big sister. The May Goodsiblings Class graduates are: Gracie Cano, Daton Cano, Kinsey Williams and Alexis Leach. Children that...

News Briefs (June 9, 2015)River Valley Arts seeks local artists The River Valley Arts Center is looking for local artists for the July gallery. Artist will appear at the gallery with their art work and will be available for a gallery talk and question and answer time at the exhibit opening at 1-3 p.m. on July 5. There will be refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists. The reception is free to the public. It will be hosted by Elizabeth Harris and Theresa Magil...

Local man drags wife from moving vehicleA local man was arrested by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Thursday after his wife was found in a road-side ditch with a large gash causing blood to come from her head and cuts and scratches on her arms, according to an investigator’s testimony. Sean Simmermaker, 44, allegedly got into an argument with his wife, Barbara, at a friend’s residence and stole her purse from her vehicle. Simmermaker then returned to his vehicle, but his wif...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear July 20 in Pope County Circuit Court. Byron Lee, 25, failure to appear — $200,000. Lee failed to appear at a March 9 Pope County Circuit Court date to face charges of burglary, breaking and entering, theft of a credit card and fraudulent use o...